Kiana Kiashemshaki

I am a Tech nerd in every sense of the word.

View Resume Portfolio

About Me

Kiana

I’m an IT specialist with a passion for systems, cloud, and security.

I started with servers and networking, grew into infrastructure and cloud, and now focus on building secure, reliable environments.

Titles don’t matter, solving problems does. Whether it’s automating a task, securing an IAM, or tuning a network, my goal is the same: keep systems smooth, efficient, and safe.

Off the keyboard, you’ll probably find me making coffee art, jamming on instruments, or climbing rocks. Always up for new challenges and a good espresso. ☕

Skills

Systems & Infrastructure

  • Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy
  • Linux Administration (Ubuntu, CentOS, CLI)
  • VMware / Hyper-V, Storage & Backup (Veeam)

Cloud

  • AWS (EC2, S3, RDS, IAM)
  • Azure Active Directory & Hybrid Sync
  • Terraform & Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
  • Kubernetes (EKS, AKS, GKE)

Programming & Automation

  • Python (Flask, Automation, Scripting)
  • Bash & PowerShell
  • Config & Task Automation (Ansible basics)

Cloud Security

  • IAM Design & Hardening (AWS IAM, Azure AD)
  • Network Security: VPC Security Groups, NSGs, Firewalls
  • SIEM & Monitoring (Splunk, CloudWatch, Sentinel)

Cybersecurity

  • Nessus, Qualys, Nmap, Wireshark
  • OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, Threat Modeling
  • System Hardening & Vulnerability Scanning
  • Identity & Access Security (MFA, RBAC, Zero Trust)

Data Science & Machine Learning

  • Python (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn)
  • Data Visualization (Matplotlib, Seaborn, D3.js)
  • Machine Learning (Regression, Clustering, Classification)
  • Large Language Models

Resume

Experience

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Bowling Green State University (Aug 2023 - May 2025)

  • Assisted professors in teaching the Operating Systems course and help students during weekly lab.
  • Graded +100 assignments, quizzes, and exams, providing constructive feedback to students.
  • Office hours to address student's questions and clarify concepts and mentor students in debugging code and optimizing performance.

Network Engineer

Hamravesh (Sep 2021 - Aug 2022)

  • Designed and maintained network and infrastructure architecture supporting containerized and cloud-native platforms.
  • Configured and optimized edge proxies, load balancers, and networking services, improving application reliability and reducing latency by 30%.
  • Collaborated with system and platform teams to ensure secure, high-availability connectivity for Kubernetes-based workloads.
  • Monitored, troubleshot, and enhanced LAN/WAN connectivity and virtual networking within cloud environments.

IT System Engineer

Erst Host (Jun 2020 - Jul 2021)

  • Monitored server performance and provided infrastructure support across departments.
  • Developed scripts in Bash and PowerShell for automating system tasks.
  • Supported user account management and access provisioning.
  • Collaborated with teams to ensure system stability and documented infrastructure updates.

IT System Administrator

Erst Host (July 2019 - Jun 2020)

  • Managed Windows and Ubuntu systems, performing routine maintenance and updates.
  • Configured and maintained Active Directory, file servers, and group policy settings.
  • Provided user support for hardware/software issues and configured peripheral devices.
  • Administered DNS, DHCP, and basic firewall settings.

Volunteer Experience

  • Research Assistant

    Bowling Green State University (Jan 2025 – Present)

    • Participate in cybersecurity and digital forensics research projects.
    • Contribute to academic papers by analyzing system artifacts and digital traces.
    • Work with forensic tools to uncover system-level security insights.
    • Tackle research challenges with a problem-solving mindset and curiosity.

  • Web Application Penetration Tester

    The Secure Signals Project (Apr 2025 – Present)

    • Perform manual and automated penetration tests on web applications.
    • Identify vulnerabilities based on the OWASP Top 10.
    • Use tools like OWASP ZAP and Burp Suite to simulate attacks and analyze responses.
    • Report findings with clear remediation suggestions to improve security posture.

Education

  • Master's in Computer Science, Cyber Security

    Bowling Green State University (Aug 2023 - May 2025)

    Coursework: Design and Analysis of Algorithms, Computer Systems Security, Network Security, Secure Software Engineering

    Bachelor's in Computer Engineering

    Azad Tehran University (Sep 2015 - Apr 2019)

    Achievements: Awarded Best Graduate Teaching Assistant (Spring 2018).

Certifications

  • AWS Cloud Practitioner (Udemy)
  • DevOps Engineering (Udemy)
  • Ethical Hacking (Udemy)
  • Technical Support (Google)
  • Full Stack Developer (Udemy)

Projects

🏆 Piqniq – Emergency Support for Panic Attacks (2nd Place Winner – BGSU ACM Hackathon 2025)

Skills: TypeScript, CSS, JavaScript, HTML, UX/UI Design, Google Maps API

Developed a mobile-first app to support users during panic attacks by sending live location and alerts to emergency contacts. The interface includes a soothing breathing guide and a friendly virtual assistant to help reduce anxiety while help is on the way.

Demo GitHub

Comprehensive Analysis of Factors Affecting Mathematics Learning

Skills: Python, Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, Matplotlib, Statistical Analysis, Machine Learning

Conducted a study analyzing factors influencing student performance in higher education mathematics. Built machine learning models for predictive insights and clustering techniques to group similar behaviors.

Demo GitHub

Water and Soil Analysis Visualization

Skills: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, D3.js, Bootstrap, Data Visualization, Web Development

Created interactive visualizations for field data related to water and soil behavior. Supported scientific exploration with dynamic and visually appealing interfaces.

Demo GitHub

South America Country's Analysis

Skills: D3.js, Bootstrap, JavaScript, Data Analysis, Data Visualization

Developed data visualizations for datasets representing 12 South American countries. Helped in exploring and analyzing regional data through dynamic charts and maps.

Demo GitHub

Face Detection Web Application

Skills: Python, Flask, OpenCV, MTCNN, Web Application Development, Computer Vision

Built a web application for face detection in uploaded images using the MTCNN algorithm. Provided a clean user interface for image uploads and efficient detection results.

GitHub

TinDog: Dog Matchmaking Platform

Skills: HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, Responsive Design

Designed and developed a playful web application for dog lovers to find matches for their pets. Integrated responsive design with Bootstrap for a seamless user experience and showcased key features like pricing plans and testimonials.

Demo GitHub

Recent Research Papers

Honors & Awards

🏆 2nd Place – BGSU ACM Hackathon 2025

Awarded for creating Piqniq, an emergency alert app designed to support users through panic attacks.

🎖️ Awarded Full Tuition Waiver – Department of Computer Science, BGSU

Recipient of a full tuition waiver awarded by the Department of Computer Science at Bowling Green State University for the entire duration of my master's program.

Contact

kianakia399@gmail.com
kkiana@bgsu.edu
GitHub (KianaKiashemshaki)
LinkedIn